Richard Moore, from developers Keepmoat Homes, said: "There is a rather large historic window in the back of the marble hall and we are trying to make it a feature of that to maintain some of the history of the site."

He said initially they had included proposals for green space on the site but residents said they would prefer more housing and better links to Osmaston Park.

The Nightingale Road factory was built to manufacture the Silver Ghost, dubbed the greatest car in the world, but became important in the nation's war effort.

The developers are now working with the planners ahead of submitting an application to Derby City Council in November.

Work could begin in the next year but it might be nine years before it is complete.